President Pranab Mukherjee Approves President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh Tuesday January 26,2016

 

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday evening January 26,2016 approved the NDA Govt Cabinet's Recommendation  for the imposition of President’s rule on Arunachal Pradesh

The assent was given right after he hosted the traditional ‘At Home’ or reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan for French President Francois Hollande as part of the Republic Day celebrations. 

President Pranab Mukherjee signed on the dotted line after being satisfied that the law and order situation in the border State was sensitive to this uncertainty in Government.  

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the President on Monday afternoon January 25,2016 to explain the reasons for the recommendation. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, told The Hindu that apart from the rule under which an Assembly has to meet every six months, the deadline for which expired in Arunachal Pradesh on January 21, there were other compelling reasons to impose President’s rule. 

“The Governor [Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa] has been sending multiple reports that even the Raj Bhavan was not safe and had been seized by Congress MLAs and there was no law and order in the State,” Mr. Rijiju said. Sources said it was this argument on law and order that weighed on Mr. Mukherjee. The Ministry of Home Affairs appointed two retired civil servants — G.S Patnaik and Y.S Dadwal as advisers to the Governor. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the imposition of President’s rule was a “disaster” in the making. 

On Tuesday evening, the Janata Dal (U) also issued a statement in support of the Congress, appealing to all non-BJP parties to unite in raising the issue in Parliament.

“This decision of the NDA-led Central government is an attempt to sabotage the Constitutional mandate, which is a threat to democracy. This act also shows the BJP’s mindset towards cooperative federalism. The JD(U) calls upon all non-BJP parties including NDA partners Telugu Desam Party, People’s Democratic Party, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal to stand together in the hour of need and raise the issue in the upcoming budget session,” the statement read. The opposition enjoys comfort in numbers in the Rajya Sabha and the imposition of President’s Rule in an Opposition-run state has set the stage for a stormy Budget Session.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal likened the situation to the Emergency. “President’s rule in Arunachal. Advaniji was right in saying that there are Emergency-like conditions in the country,” he said.

Note

Arunachal Pradesh Political Crisis

1. The turmoil began in Arunachal Pradesh on December 16 after 21 rebel Congress lawmakers joined hands with 11 BJP and two independent members to "impeach" Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue.
2. The Congress alleges that Governor JP Rajkhowa acted as a "BJP agent" and helped its rebel lawmakers by calling an assembly session a month ahead of time.
3. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and the 26 lawmakers on his side in the 60-member assembly boycotted the session calling it illegal and unconstitutional.
4. A day later, the rebels and opposition lawmakers gathered at a hotel to "vote out" the Chief Minister and elect his replacement. A no-confidence motion moved by BJP and independent lawmakers was adopted in proceedings chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel.
5. The Gauhati High Court first put on hold the decisions taken at the rebel "session". After the High Court dismissed the Speaker's petition, he moved the Supreme Court, which has referred the case to a Constitution bench